The food and drink you consume on the days following surgery and even the days leading up to an operation can make or break the body’s ability to heal. Many carefully plan an elective surgery, evaluating the best surgeons and most effective procedures to meet their personal cosmetic or medical goals; but, few prospective patients think about how changes in diet will impact the healing process. Downtime often leads to easy, but not healthy, pizza delivery, take-out or whatever comfort food snacks are on hand in the home pantry.

“Unfortunately, after surgery, many patients can’t drive and rely on fast food or food a friend brings by to eat, which might not be very healthy,” says Mimi Bean, chef and founder of Meals That Heal You, a catering company specializing in prepared meals for post-surgical patients in Atlanta. “The wrong food can slow down healing and increase swelling, which is not good.” Foods too high in salt can cause swelling and that greasy pizza might trigger indigestion, disturbing the sleep needed for recovery.

Snack with Caution

Bean started her home meal delivery service at the request of Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Codner. She says, “I decided to prepare healthy meals for my best friend, who works for Dr. Codner. He was so impressed with her rapid recovery that he asked me to offer post-surgery catering to all of his patients.”

A win-win for health and beauty was born! Meals That Heal You provides foods and beverages for three to five days, depending on type of surgery and doctor’s recommendations. Sample meals include salmon and avocado, rich in healthy fats, whole grains and legumes for dietary fiber and hydrating fresh fruits that are naturally high in vitamins and minerals.

Healing from the Inside Out

Skin, bone, muscle and all body tissues need nutrients to build and repair on a daily basis. When wounds are healing, the body requires even greater focus on good nutrition to fight off infection and regain strength. All nutrients—from vitamin A to the mineral zinc—play key roles in supporting cellular recovery. It’s protein, healthy fats and antioxidant-rich foods that star as a dream team after surgery.

“We know that surgery and anesthesia cause stress, which puts the body in a negative protein balance,” says Stuart Phillips, professor of kinesiology at McMaster University and fellow of the American College of Nutrition. “So ideally patients should make sure to consume adequate protein before surgery, too.” Chicken, beef, eggs and fish contain the high-quality protein that the body craves to repair cells. Phillips suggests consuming at least 25 grams of protein per meal. One egg, for example, contains six grams of high-quality protein. Three ounces of beef contains 22 grams of protein.

Don’t Forget Fluid and Fiber

After surgery, the periods of inactivity and pain medications can lead to constipation and dehydration. Make sure to drink lots of water and snack on high-fluid foods, such as watermelon, cantaloupe and even cucumbers. Rather than using a juicer (which removes the fiber in fruits and vegetables), enjoy blender smoothies of fresh or frozen fruit combined with Greek yogurt (higher in protein than regular yogurt) that deliver fiber, protein and antioxidant vitamins, like vitamin C. Legumes such as lentils, beans and peas are a good source of fiber. So are whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta.

Shake the Salt Habit

Cut down on sodium by discovering the natural flavors in fresh foods seasoned with herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, paprika and cumin. “Letting someone taste eggs scrambled with the natural tang of fresh dill is a good starter to introduce something with no salt that they normally salt heavily,” says Bean. “I use tons of fresh herbs and peppers in all my food to maximize flavor.” Even if it’s just for a few days post-surgery, Bean says one of the happiest side effects is discovering the delicious taste of creatively prepared healthy meals, “They tell me, ’Wow, I can’t believe how good that made me feel’ and they want to continue eating these foods. You know, it’s the way we are meant to eat.”

Imagine opening your front door to a box of freshly roasted coffee beans from around the world. Based in Decatur, Radio Roasters offers a monthly subscription box crafted for coffee lovers. The company carefully selects single-origin coffee from green coffee growers, ready for roasting and nationwide delivery. Their affection for small batch roasts means every box is filled with plenty of variety.

Whether you’re fueling up for a fall hike at one of the local state parks or simply preparing for a full day of errands, Made in Nature™ snacks like Figgy Pops™ will power you on with a blend of organic figs, tart cherries, walnuts and cacao nibs covered in coconut. Those craving a crunch can chow down on their Organic Kale Chips in a variety of flavors.

]]>http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/snack-to-nature/feed/0Fresh French Onion Souphttp://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/fresh-french-onion-soup/
http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/fresh-french-onion-soup/#commentsThu, 13 Oct 2016 10:00:09 +0000http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/?p=12452Continue reading →]]>Days slowly grow shorter and leaves begin to crinkle as the calendar flips over to autumn. A crisp night calls for a warm bowl of this fresh, homemade French onion soup made from a recipe courtesy of John Szymanski, executive chef and food safety manager of The Kroger Co.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp butter

2 lbs Vidalia or sweet onions,
sliced julienne

½ cup sherry

2 qts chicken stock

¼ tsp fresh thyme, chopped

Sliced baguette – ½” thick

Swiss or Gruyere cheese as garnish

Directions:

Sauté onions in butter in large stockpot until browned. Deglaze with sherry and let reduce. Add stock and thyme and simmer one hour. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Make croutons by placing baguette slices on a sheet pan, then baking in 350oF oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Ladle soup into serving bowls or crocks. Top with two croutons (optional) and sprinkled cheese; place under broiler two additional minutes until melted. Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves over top as garnish.

They’ve brought nutritious, sustainable food to area neighborhoods, now the Community Farmers Markets (CFM) are bringing creative recipes into your kitchen. Farmers, vendors, market supporters and chefs like Jarrett Stieber of Eat Me Speak Me and Miles Macquarrie of Kimball House, along with growers including Riverview Farms, Mayflower Farms and Rag & Frass Farm have all contributed recipes to Summer: A Community Farmers Markets Cookbook, the second release from CFM’s new community cookbook series. Once you’ve cooked your way through Summer, sit tight for Fall and Winter.

East Atlanta Village gets another wave of cool now that Revolution Gelato has set up shop. The award-winning gelato maker has opened its first brick-and-mortar and will donate three percent of all store revenues to Wholesome Wave, a local nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to healthy, locally grown food. Revolution’s opening menu features six flavors, including their signature Nekkid Espresso, plus plenty of dairy-free, vegan and organic topping options.

Fresh herbs enhance flavor and aroma without adding any fat or salt. Mint is a refreshing herb that flourishes during early summer. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life campaign suggests these cool ideas on hot summer days: Add mint leaves to water for an invigorating punch of flavor or chop mint leaves and sprinkle over cubed watermelon to make your melon pop.

Fruit, water and a bit of cane sugar—that’s all there is in Chloe’s™ Soft Serve Fruit Pops. Blended to a creamy consistency, the fruit mixture (similar to soft-serve ice cream) is poured into popsicle molds and frozen. At only 60 calories per pop, these fruit-on-a-stick treats offer a healthy way to beat the summer heat and satisfy that sweet tooth at the same time. Chloe’s can now be spotted in
Costco and Kroger stores throughout Atlanta.